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Halloween Hearse pulls into SEMA: Thundertaker is the perfect ride for Dia de los Muertes, even if you're not dead

October 30, 2012

1 of 4Fuller finished Thundertaker 48 hours before it had to be across the country.

Photo by FULLER HOT RODS

2 of 4It's so big it barely fit on the page.

Photo by Mark Vaughn

3 of 4Seats nine or ten living adults

Photo by Mark Vaughn

4 of 4The ride of a lifetime, during or after.

Photo by Mark Vaughn

Just in time for Halloween, Fuller Hot Rods in Atlanta finished the ultimate cruising hearse, The Thundertaker, fitted out for the lucky living among us. Or at least for the zombie dead still looking for a party.

Of the thousands of cars, hot rods and monster trucks that pour into SEMA each year, some just reach out, grab you and demand that you take photographs and notes. Such was our experience with this 1960 Superior Coach hearse redone by the talented team at Fuller. Crowds surrounded it every time we saw it, such was its exquisite appeal.

Riding on “the longest chassis Art Morrison has ever made,” the Fuller coach is powered by a ZZ454 big block crate motor with valve covers decked out to look like a 1930s Cadillac V16. The silver sarcophagus was stripped to the frame and then the body, minus the slightly rusty floor, was sent out to be sandblasted. A new floor was fashioned, then the whole thing was mated to the Morrison chassis. It rides so low that the exhausts were routed directly through holes in the frame then out through the bumper end caps. The air bag suspension accommodates varying numbers of the luckily departed. The lengthy body was not stretched but it was chopped five inches and the sunroof on the top, made of three Webasto tops sewn together, is supposed to be the world's largest.

The only original sheet metal on the coffin carrier are the front fenders, front doors and the hood. Everything else was formed by hand. We imagine that cost a lot.

“It's way too much,” Farrar said, laughing.

The car was made for an Atlanta businessman who wanted something to take his kids trick or treating.

“Your normal, average business guy,” said Farrar.

Your normal, average business guy who buys two hearses and converts one into the ultimate stylin' ride for you and about 10 of your friends.

Yes, he bought two hearses, keeping one for his use now and sent the other to Fuller.

The seats are covered with clear plastic but that can be easily removed. The middle features two benches facing each other, while a third bench rides up front. The back still has room for luggage but not a coffin. Maybe the rear bench seats will fold down to accommodate such a load. In any case, when our time comes, call up Fuller and ask if we can be hauled off in this thing. What a way to go.

Happy Halloween!

Mark Vaughn
- After slumming in Europe five years covering F1 etc. Mark Vaughn interviewed with Autoweek at the 1989 Frankfurt motor show has been with us ever since because no one else will take him. Anyone?
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